I tend to think of January as the buffer between the new year and the previous year. It's a time I spend recovering from the chaos of the festive season, a time I slowly ease myself into the new year.

I spend January looking back over the year just gone, and deciding on what I want the new year to bring. Come February the looking back stops and the new year, with all my good intentions, has my full attention.

I read somewhere that by the time January 5th rolls around most people have failed or faltered at their New Year's Resolutions, I had to chuckle as I was still pondering mine.

I don't feel the need to make huge changes in my life. Life is pretty good, but I do think there is room for improvement. So I thought about the ways in which I'd like life to change, it didn't matter how small these changes were, I considered anything that would enrich or improve life in some way, big or small.

I came out the other side with a word for the year. And that word is Better.

Better at:
(in no particular order)

meal planning

making plans to see friends

cooking from scratch

keeping on top of the housework

finishing projects (and doing one thing at a time)

listening

taking care of myself

meditating regularly

regularly practicing yoga

money management

decluttering

gardening

parallel parking

reversing

forgiving

communicating

asking for help

sticking to a routine

not buying books

resisting impulse purchases

using less single use plastic

remembering birthdays

focusing on one thing at a time

getting something out of the freezer for supper the next day

being grateful

The plan is to come up with ways to make these changes stick, to implement new routines, set aside time for specific things. I'll tackle each one, and try to find a better way of doing things.

One of my stumbling blocks is that I crave routine, but when I get it I get bored and want more freedom and flexibility. That's when things fall by the wayside, routines get forgotten, stuff doesn't get done, and then life feels hectic and I feel like things are getting on top of me.

I need to learn to rest and not quit. It's an on going thing. Can anyone say "I don't need to change anything about myself or my life. I'm perfect"? Except, of course, every cat that ever lived.

Last year it seemed to finally dawn on me that it's not enough to simply say 'I want to do X' or 'I'd really like to start doing Y'. I actually have to do something about it, I have to take steps to make it happen.

Some of the things I wanted to change were so simple - exercise more, eat more fruit and veg, try new recipes, set about some much needed DIY, see more of my friends and family.

These things aren't ground breaking or daring, but I felt they would make positive changes to my life and overall well being.

This isn't the first time I've tried to make changes such as these, but having failed on more than one occasion I knew I had to find a new approach.

What I came up with has been so helpful.

At the beginning of the year I wrote a list of the things I wanted to change, then I made a tick chart so I could document my progress over the course of a week. Each week I've been reviewing my progress.

And three months into the year it seems to be working.

It makes me look at the things I'm doing or not doing, I'm more aware of what's working and what isn't. Anything that isn't gets a new approach.

I wanted to up my intake of fruit and veg, fruit is no problem but I found vegetables harder. I realised that I find preparing and cooking veg really boring, and tend to cook just one variety for our evening meal to save on pots and pans. So I'm looking into a getting a steamer. Being able to pop everything into one pot and leave it to cook seems like a simple solution, not to mention that it's a healthy way to cook.

The tick chart helps me to see when I haven't done something for a few days and spurs me on to make sure it does happen, and continues to happen.

For example, I took vitamins sporadically and I wanted to take them everyday. Now when I take them I tick it off on my chart. Before there were days, sometimes weeks, when I would simply forget. Some days I couldn't remember if I'd taken them or not. Now I know for sure, and I have only missed 4 days so far this year which is a vast improvement.

Breakfast is another thing I didn't do well. But, it sets me up for the day, keeps me upbeat (no one likes me when I'm hungry), and helps me concentrate. Now I have my tick chart I am reminded daily to take the time to eat in the morning. I also have a rule that I have to eat before 9am. Again, this method is working.

Trying new recipes keeps cooking interesting and I try for a new recipe once a week, not all of them are well received, but it feels good to get into the kitchen and try. I write on my chart what recipes I've tried (and more importantly which ones have been given the thumbs up) which will help with future meal planning, help me cook to cook from scratch, and hopefully stop me cooking the same few dishes in rotation, or chucking convenience food into the microwave.

Some things on my list I only expect to do once or twice a month e.g seeing family or friends, or undertaking some home improvement but the daily reminder on my chart helps to keep it at the forefront of my mind, it nudges me into taking action, to make plans. I'm hoping that one day all of these things will become second nature and I won't have to remind myself.

This might seem a bit of an odd thing to do, what 40 year old really needs to remind herself to eat breakfast with a tick chart?

This one. Me. I do!

Anything that helps me achieve the things I want to achieve, no matter how small or insignificant they might seem, is worth my time.

How do you go about introducing new changes to your life?